Hybrid power line communications digital broadcast system

Abstract

A hybrid power line communication systems (PLCS) and method for satellite broadcast communications and power line communications is provided. In one example embodiment, a broadcast receiver and antenna may be coupled to, or integrated with, a transformer bypass device that is coupled to both a low voltage and a medium voltage power line. The bypass device may further include a first modem configured to be connected to the LV power line subnet to provide communication services to multiple customer premises and a router for routing data from either the medium voltage power line or the receiver to the first modem for transmission to one or more user devices.

1 . A communication system for communicating data via an external low voltage power line subnet, comprising: 
 a first modem configured to provide communications for a user device;    a second modem configured to be communicatively coupled to a medium voltage power line,    an antenna;    a receiver configured to receive a broadcast signal via said antenna; and    a processor in communication with said first modem, said second modem, and said receiver.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said antenna comprises a satellite dish antenna.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said a receiver is configured to demodulate the broadcast signal.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said receiver includes a first tuner configured to extract a first digital data stream from the broadcast signal.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said receiver includes a second tuner configured to extract a second digital data stream from the broadcast signal.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user device comprises a first presentation device disposed in a first customer premises.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said first modem is configured to communicate with a second presentation device disposed in a second customer premises.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said first modem is configured to communicate with the first presentation device via a control device disposed at the first customer premises.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said control device is configured to provide a National TV Standards Committee (NTSC) signal to the first presentation device.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said control device is configured to provide a high definition television signal to the first presentation device.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said control device is configured to transmit a request for programming to said first modem in response to a user input.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first modem is configured to communicate with one or more user devices via a wireless link.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a router in communication with said first modem and said second modem.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a computer readable medium encoded with executable instructions to cause said processor to function as said router.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first modem, said processor, and said second modem are disposed in a housing and said housing is mounted on a utility pole.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said receiver is disposed in said housing.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said receiver is responsive to user requests received via said first modem to provide selected programming data received via said antenna to the customer premises of the user via said first modem.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a computer readable medium encoded with executable instructions to cause said processor to cause said first modem to transmit said selected programming data.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said antenna is configured to receive terrestrial broadcast signals.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a computer readable medium encoded with executable instructions to cause said processor to respond to commands received by said second modem via the medium voltage power line.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein a first command comprises a command to enable a broadcast signal subscription of a user.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said antenna comprises a satellite dish configured to transmit signals to at least one satellite.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first modem is configured to communicate with a user device through a coaxial cable.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first modem is configured to communicate with a plurality of user devices through the low voltage power line subnet.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said receiver is configured to provide broadcast data to said processor; and further comprising: 
 a computer readable medium encoded with executable instructions to cause said processor to extract a first digital data stream from said broadcast data and to cause said first modem to transmit said first digital data stream.    
     
     
         29 . The system of claim,  13 , wherein said router is further in communication with said receiver and is configured to route data received from said second modem and said receiver to said first modem.  
     
     
         30 . A system for communicating data over a low voltage power line, comprising: 
 an antenna;    a receiver configured to receive a broadcast signal via said antenna;    a modem configured to communicate with a plurality of user devices via the low voltage power line; and    a processor in communication with said modem and said receiver.    
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said receiver includes a first tuner configured to extract a first digital data stream from the broadcast signal.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein said receiver includes a second tuner configured to extract a second digital data stream from the broadcast signal.  
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said first modem is configured to communicate with a first presentation device via a control device disposed at a first customer premises.  
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein said control device is configured to transmit a high definition television signal to the first presentation device.  
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein said control device is configured to transmit a request for programming to said first modem in response to a user input.  
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein said receiver is responsive to user requests received via said first modem to provide selected programming data received via said antenna to the customer premises of the user via said first modem.  
     
     
         37 . A method of providing communications to one or more user devices via a low voltage power line, comprising: 
 receiving first data via an antenna;    receiving second data via a medium voltage power line;    routing the first data and the second data to a modem;    transmitting the first data over a low voltage power line with the modem; and    transmitting the second data over the low voltage power line with the modem.